THIS Scots location holds a special place in the Borders-born hunk’s heart.

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The Scots actor, who plays Jamie Fraser in the hit time-travel show, admits the small village of Kinloch Rannoch, where they shoot the standing stones called Craigh na Dun, wins his vote.

Speaking to timeandlesiure.com, Borders-born Sam said: “We filmed a lot of scenes round and about this small village called Kinloch Rannoch.

“At the centre is Loch Rannoch (that’s Lake Rannoch for non-Gaelic speakers), and at the other end is a mountain called Schiehallion, which they call the mountain of the fairies. It’s this beautiful peak that looks quite iconic.”

Wiki

Craigh na Dun

“We shot there last year on my birthday, and I was very lucky to have the following day off. Everyone else was filming, but I managed to sneak off and climb up the top of the mountain.

“The view was just incredible. It was so dramatic; everything was still covered in snow. There’s lots of wildlife - pheasants, grouse, wild deer, sometimes you see stags. It’s just a very magical place.”

Outlander has become a global phenomenon - and Scotland is right at the heart of the show.

The nation's history and stunning scenery are prominent in author Diana Gabaldon 's eight book series, which has been replicated in the story's TV adaptation.

And now the success of the Starz time travel series has seen it receiving a number of top awards in the TV world.

Filming for the first series originally began in October 2013 at various locations in Scotland, creating a magical setting for main characters Claire and Jamie Fraser.

Iconic sites, including medieval stronghold Doune Castle, which was used as the setting for the fictional Castle Leoch, Glasgow's George Square and Castle Leod have all been a major part of the show's first season.

Linlithgow Palace, in the Scottish town of West Lothian, was also used to stand in for the entrance and corridors of Wentworth Prison and featured in the dramatic final episodes of the series.

The cast and crew are currently working on the second season of Outlander, with filming continuing to take place in a number of Scottish locations.

Earlier this year, Dysart Harbour, in Fife, was transformed into a 1700s-themed set, and last month, Sam Heughan and Tobias Menzies, were spotted shooting a much anticipated duel in Glasgow's Pollok Park.

Fans of the show from across the globe have been flocking to Scotland to explore the different locations through organised Outlander tours.

While some book location tours have been running for years, many other companies have added Outlander slants to existing tours based on film locations.

Look back on the Outlander series so far by clicking through the picture gallery below.